How long can you live after being diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver?
Patients with compensated cirrhosis have a median survival that may extend beyond 12 years. Patients with decompensated cirrhosis have a worse prognosis than do those with compensated cirrhosis; the average survival without transplantation is approximately two years [13,14].
What are the 4 stages of cirrhosis of the liver?
Cirrhosis is classified into four stages that include:
- Stage I: Steatosis. The first stage of liver disease is characterized by inflammation of the bile duct or liver.
- Stage II: Scarring (fibrosis) of the liver due to inflammation.
- Stage III: Cirrhosis.
- Stage IV: Liver failure or advanced liver disease or hepatic failure.
Can you live with cirrhosis of the liver?
Many people with cirrhosis can feel quite well and live for many years without needing a liver transplant. This is because the liver can function relatively well even when it is quite severely damaged. Cirrhosis is classified as compensated or decompensated.
Is cirrhosis of the liver always fatal?
Cirrhosis can be fatal if the liver fails. However, it usually takes years for the condition to reach this stage and treatment can help slow its progression. Each year in the UK, around 4,000 people die from cirrhosis and 700 people with the condition need a liver transplant to survive.
Can you live 20 years with cirrhosis?
People with cirrhosis in Class A have the best prognosis, with a life expectancy of 15 to 20 years. People with cirrhosis in Class B are still healthy, with a life expectancy of 6 to 10 years. As a result, these people have plenty of time to seek sophisticated therapy alternatives such as a liver transplant.
How quickly does cirrhosis progress?
Cirrhosis is a very slow-acting disease. It can take up to 30 years to develop. The amount of time it takes for cirrhosis to develop depends on a few factors, including the cause of the cirrhosis, a person’s general health, lifestyle and genetics. Cirrhosis is a serious condition.
What is the most common cause of death in patients with cirrhosis?
The world-wide prevalence of bacterial infection in hospitalized patients with cirrhosis ranges between 33% and 47%[74,75]. Infections are a leading cause of death in patients with cirrhosis and mortality has been reported as high as 19% in one study[76].
Can you stop cirrhosis from progressing?
There’s no cure for cirrhosis at the moment. However, there are ways to manage the symptoms and any complications and slow its progression. Treating the problem that led to cirrhosis (for example, using anti-viral medicines to treat hepatitis C) can stop cirrhosis getting worse.
Is cirrhosis a terminal illness?
When a patient’s liver disease reaches cirrhosis, a stage when the liver damage can no longer be reversed, it becomes a terminal diagnosis. Unlike most terminal illnesses, a cure may be available for some patients through a liver transplant.